Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction ❯ Boys in the Attic ❯ Ruin the Day ( Chapter 9 )

Disclaimer: Nope, don't own Weiss Kreuz nor am I profiting from this, it is for pure reading enjoyment. The wonderful Koyasu Takehito is the creator.

Ruin the Day

Ken woke up late the next day. He'd been pondering all night and was too exhausted to hear his alarm clock go off in the morning. He thought about maybe not going into work today. He didn't want to have to carpool with Yohji or even face him right now. His emotions about the previous night were still tense and it made his body numb with guilt and mostly anger. Ken sat up in bed and threw his legs over the edge. Placing his feet on the floor, he smoothed them over the carpeted ground, stalling and trying to find enough courage in himself to actually leave the room.

In the kitchen, Yohji had already prepared breakfast. He set the food out on the table and waited patiently for Ken to join him. Usually the younger man would have shown himself by now. [Actually,] Yohji thought to himself. [I don't even remember hearing him brush his teeth or wash his face this morning. I hope nothing's wrong.] With that surrounding thought, Yohji rose from his seat and headed to Ken's room. He knocked at the door and called the younger boy's name. "Ken-kun?"

"Yes, Yohji," came the soft return.

"I have your breakfast on the table. Do you need me to re-heat it? I will if you need more time to get ready."

"Hai, Arigatou."

Yohji went back to the kitchen and stuck Ken's plate in the microwave. He waited until he saw Ken approach the breakfast table to start heating Ken's plate. He pushed the thirty seconds button and turned to face his housemate who was currently seating himself. Ken's eyes looked worn-out and cheerless. They were slightly reddened and dark underneath.

"You sleep okay?"

"Sort of."

"Any sweet dreams?" Yohji asked with a smile.

"Only nightmares."

Yohji tilted his head with compassion. The microwave beeped as it finished and the older boy took out the food. He placed it back on the table and watched as Ken attempted to take his first bite. The boy ate slowly and thoughtfully. His brow was firm and his gaze unfocused.

Yohji just played with his own food mostly. Ken's current behavior or lack there of was making him uncomfortable. He thought of something to say again but then decided against it. Ken finished his food. He picked up his plate and looked to Yohji in question of whether the older man was done with his plate too. Yohji handed Ken the dish. The younger boy put them in the sink and poured himself another cup of coffee. He took the mug into the living room with him rather than sit back at the table with Yohji. Ken curled up on the couch and stayed still except for occasionally sipping on his drink. Yohji finally decided to get up from the dining room and see about his roommate.

"So…you ready for work?" Ken shook his head. "You wanna maybe hang out for a while and go in later?" Ken shook his head again. "Do you just want to stay home completely?"

"Yes," Ken said just above a whisper.

"I'll call the gym for you and tell them that you're sick. Okay?" Ken looked Yohji in the eye. It was the first time that their eyes had met directly since the previous night. Both had avoided making eye contact all morning and were afraid of doing so. Even now, it was a bit terrifying. The awkwardness from last night was brutal and led the two friends to act like strangers with each other.

+++

Yohji left for work while Ken stayed at home. Ken tried to busy himself by cleaning the house a little and doing some laundry but boredom was hot on his heels, so he decided to go out for a brisk walk. After all, he usually got all of his exercising done at work but since he wasn't going in today, he'd have to make up for the loss of activity somehow.

Ken locked up the house and started a steady pace down the sidewalk. The morning air did him good and the sounds of singing birds gave him peace. Gradually, his walk turned into more of a jog. He couldn't help but dwell on his situation with Yohji and fantasized a million different ways that he could redeem how he felt about their relationship. Or better yet, he'd like to go back in time to the first night that he'd told Yohji he loved him and not let the older man take the words so lightly. He'd hold him and kiss him until Yohji loved him the same. But how could he now with Aya in the way? Or was he just making excuses for himself?

His emotions made his heart string high. He began to be very thankful for not stepping in to work today because he might not have been able to keep himself together.

Ken decided to go just a little further around the neighborhood before taking himself back home.

Truly, he was getting over Yohji, but not because he'd lost interest in the man or because he'd finally gotten a good wake up call to stop yearning after some crush, but because he was discouraged. He felt defeated by Aya and sickened by Yohji. Why hadn't the older boy longed after him too? Ken had been the ideal candidate for a new love. For two solid years he'd been more genuine to Yohji than all of his other friends. Not that Ken was perfect but he was damn near close. And after all of his loyalty, kindness and understanding, those qualities still hadn't won him the romantic affections of Yohji Kudou. Jaded.

+++

Yohji was in between class sessions at the moment. He didn't have another class for the next forty-five minutes but he was still obligated to help out with registration forms at the front desk or pick up weights that people had carelessly left on the ground and relocate them to their proper places. Yohji headed in the direction of the front desk to help out Otsune but made a detour instead. He went into the men's locker room area where there was a Jacuzzi and two saunas, one wet and one dry. Yohji got into the wet sauna. He sat inside alone. [Good,] he thought to himself. [No one here to bother me by talking to me or looking at me. I just want time to think.] Yohji closed his green eyes peacefully while the steam cleansed his pores and relaxed his mind.

The previous night had been an unusual one and it had Yohji pondering. He remembered when Ken had left his bed to return to his own and the saddened look upon the younger boy's face. Yohji imagined wrapping his arms around Ken to comfort the unhappy boy and absentmindedly hugged himself while doing so. Softly, he sighed into the quietness.

+++

Ken returned home. After locking the door behind him, he made to put his keys away. As he did so, the answering machine came on.

"Yohji, this is Aya. It's about 11:00 a.m. Call me back on my cell phone when you get this message. I want to know what you're doing tomorrow night. Ja na."

Ken frowned bitterly. As soon as Aya hung up the phone, Ken played the message back on the machine then, promptly put his finger to the erase button during mid-statement, only to retract the digit. What good would it bring? "Bastard," whispered Ken to the thought of his rival. He went back to his room and got on the computer. Lazily, he looked over the contents of his e-mail and came across one from Omi. The younger boy had sent Ken a message thanking him for his attendance at the exhibit. Ken's mouth turned into a genuine smile for the first time all morning. The letter had been the tiny bit of light he needed to chase away all the shadows in his mind that stemmed from the previous night.

Ken responded to his friend's e-mail sweetly and proposed that they see each other again very soon. Satisfied with the letter he sent it off and leaned back in his chair. Just as he did so, the phone rang and he almost fell out of his seat from astonishment. Abruptly, he reached for the phone before the answering machine could pick up.

"Moshi, moshi."

"Ken-kun."

"Yes, Yohji? Are you at work?"

"Hai. I'm taking a secret break right now." Ken laughed lightly. "So you're feeling better? You sound like you might be."

"A little I suppose. What are you calling for? Do you need me to do something for you?"

"Well, I mainly just wanted to see how you were doing. Are you sure that you're oka…"

"Aya called," Ken interrupted.

"Good," Yohji said plainly. But Ken could hear the smile on his lips.

"He wants to know what you're doing tomorrow night."

"Tomorrow night, tomorrow night…" Yohji thought out loud. "Actually, I wanted to reserve that night for you and I. I wanted us to go see a movie or something." Ken smiled instantly. "But I guess I can change those plans." Ken held his breath. "But only because you and I can do something tonight. The only reason I wanted us to hang out tomorrow is because I didn't think you'd be up for anything tonight. But you seem better now." Ken exhaled with a little relief. "So do you wanna catch a movie?"

"Hai. That would be nice."

"Okay, well when I get home we can check some of the movie listings to see what's playing. But right now I think I should get back to work."

"Alright."

"Ja na."

Ken hung up the phone and felt cheerfulness blossom in his heart. A night just for he and Yohji, no Omi, no Juro, no Aya. Not that Ken minded group outings with his other friends but it'd been a while since he and his roommate had ventured out just the two of them; not like a date but just as personal.

Ken decided on taking a short nap and he set his alarm clock to wake him up in exactly two hours. Peacefully he went to sleep and caught up on the slumber that he'd lost the night before. [Just forty winks,] Ken thought to himself. [And then I'll be ready to take on the world.]

+++

Right on time, the alarm clock started to beep. Ken shut it off sluggishly and crawled out of bed. He yawned for a moment at he stretched his muscles then, rubbed his hands at his eyes. Ken smiled to himself upon remembering his last conversation with Yohji. Soon his tiredness dissipated and he felt fully energized.

The boy padded away to the bathroom and hopped in the shower. He whistled to himself as he washed and began to quite enjoy the sound of his own tune.

Hair. Ken lathered up his brunette locks with sweet smelling shampoo. He worked his fingers through the mane, massaging his scalp as he did so. Secondly, he washed the shampoo away only to apply the complementing conditioner. It smelled just as lovely and Yohji never failed to say so whenever he smelled the younger boy's hair; a feature that Ken never forgot.

With a final rinse, Ken stepped out of the shower to dry off. He patted himself dry with a soft towel and soon afterward began the task of lotioning his slightly dampened skin. Tonight was his night and Ken intended to beat Love at its own game. Yohji was a fool for eye candy, obvious by his infatuation with Fujimiya. And if eye candy was what Yohji wanted then, Ken was ready to be sugary for him.

+++

Back at the gym, Yohji finished up his last class for the day. Today had been particularly boring without Ken and Otsune had been busy most of the day which left him no one familiar to really talk to.

"Okay," Yohji announced to his class. "Cool down period. Now what I want is for us all to just walk in place and easily bring our arms up and in toward your chest then, move them outward again."

With a sigh of relief, Yohji herded his subjects out of the room and made his way to the showers. He washed himself well, not sparing any soap and occasionally fondling himself in all the most intimate places. He smiled every time his fingertips came into close contact with his penis. Naughty, naughty. Yohji made sure not to touch himself too much or when he left for home, everyone would be sure to see a bulge in his pants.

Upon passing the front desk, Yohji waved goodbye to Otsune. He put on his sunglasses and headed to the parking lot. Leisurely, he fastened his seatbelt and started the car. His usual route home was blocked off due to a car accident and the traffic was unbearable so he decided to take the longer distance to his house. [Radio,] He thought to himself. Switching the tuning knob back and forth he searched for a good station. He couldn't find anything he really liked and ended up settling for a tired but catchy song that he'd favored at one time. He turned the radio down low as not to distract himself from the road too much but this was done in vain for a larger disruption caught his attention as he came to the next stoplight.

Yohji looked to his right at the next car over. A common face stared back at him with overconfident eyes and a proud smile to match. Yohji could see the other man mouthing a word to him; "Konichiwa," it appeared to be. The other man turned his gaze away and toward a small object. Subsequently, Yohji's cell phone began to ring.

"Moshi moshi," Yohji answered. It hadn't registered `til now that the other man might be trying to call him.

"Ogenki desu ka?"

Yohji turned bashful. "I am…ahem," Yohji began, but the words came out more like a gurgle than anything so he had to clear his throat. " I am very well, thank you." He sounded stronger this time.

Aya smiled with amusement. "Are you headed home?"

"Hai."

"No you aren't."

"Wha…"

"You're headed to an ice cream parlor with me."

"Oh," was all the older boy managed to seep out. He was still feeling a little dazed and was prepared to follow Aya anywhere at this point; which he did. The redhead led them to the said shop and they parked their cars side by side.

Aya held the shop door open. "After you," he proposed and Yohji stepped in gleefully. He'd never been here before which was surprising to him. The place looked so inviting and was so much in plain view that it was hard for Yohji to believe that he'd never even seen the place before. "You look lost?" Aya said teasingly. Yohji was staring about the place like a continental foreigner.

"It's just that I've never been here before? I don't ever remember seeing it either. I think if I had then I'd have paid a visit by now."

"Well, they've only been in business for a couple of months now."

"Oh. Well, how did you come across it?" The younger boy opened his mouth to answer but before he could, a stray voice interrupted the conversation.

"Aya-kun, babe is that you?!"

Yohji turned to see a young woman behind the front counter. She seemed to appear from a back room of sorts.

"Keakoa," the red haired man responded.

[Yeah, who's the skirt?] Yohji thought to himself.

The girl came from behind the counter and greeted Fujimiya with a hug. Her arms tightened shamelessly around the man. She was slightly short, with cropped, sandy colored hair and milky shaded skin. Or in Yohji's current point of view, she was stubby, with a dykey unwashed barbers cut and had ghostly pail skin. Oh yeah, and she was fat; not healthy not plump, [A real porker,] Yohji snickered. Ironically, if he'd seen her at any other given time he would have thought her quite lovely, but with her tentacles all over his man, not to mention her slowness to acknowledge him also, Yohji was getting upset.

The girl relinquished her embrace from Aya slowly and turned her attention to Yohji. Her smile faltered just a little as she did so. "Hi," she said plainly. She looked up at Aya and drew closer to the man. "Who's he?" she asked rather impolitely. No, she really didn't know who he was exactly but she knew what he probably was to Aya; a position she'd been working at but never received.

"This is Yohji," Aya said backing away from the woman slightly. He put an arm around Yohji's shoulders instead. "He's my…friend," Aya said with an inflexion in his voice and a smile on his lips.

Aya's point made, the girl forced a short laugh. Yohji detected the jealousy behind it and grinned an evil grin of satisfaction. "Friend," she repeated. "Well, a friend of yours is a friend of mine. Choose whatever you want on the menu, it's on the house."

Yohji and Aya sat down to a small booth. They ordered a large sundae with two spoons at Aya's request, something Yohji he'd always seen in the movies but had yet to actually do. The dish was placed before them when a charging thought came to the older boy. [Oh SHIT!] he thought to himself. "Uhm…I'll be right back. I have to use the bathroom." Aya nodded and Yohji headed to the back of the store. He entered the restroom and immediately called home. The phone rang twice before Ken answered.

"Yohji?"

"Hey Ken, uh…I'm running a little late. How about you just pick out the movie we watch tonight to save time."

"Any preferences?"

"Uh…nothing sappy, nothing stupid aaaand, it must have a plot. I'm sorry I won't have time to make dinner. There's still some good stuff you can reheat from the `fridge though, `kay?"

"Sure."

"Good, gotta go," Yohji said in a rush and hung up the phone. He returned to his spot in the booth with Aya and took his first spoonful of ice cream. He loved the way Aya watched the special treat enter his mouth and doubly interested in seeing the effect he held another spoonful up to the redhead's mouth. Aya took it in delightfully. He closed his lavender eyes with a swallow and grinned with pleasure.

+++

Meanwhile, Ken was slightly grateful that Yohji did not plan to come home on time. In truth, he was running behind himself. He couldn't figure out what to wear, even after trying on just about everything in his closet. This of course called for plan B; Borrow clothes from a friend. He needed something fresh. Something Yohji didn't see everyday so getting the clothes from his closet was out of the question. Instead Ken called up Juro and the younger boy sped to the rescue.

Ken opened the door quickly. He needed his friend in and out before Yohji pulled into the driveway. "Hey Ken-kun," was all Juro managed to get out before he was pulled into the house by the collar of his shirt.

"Sorry, I'm just anxious."

"Tell me about it."

"So, let's see it all." Juro unburdened his arms from the outfit he'd been holding. The costume consisted of a pair of dark denim pants, a white shirt with green felt embroidery of a topless mermaid and white sneakers to match. "Looks good. Very good," Ken said with a smile. "Domo arigatou."

"Don't mention it. Now I better get going before you know who decides to show up." Juro bounded out the front door and drove away in the opposite direction that Yohji typically came home from work.

Ken tidied up the mess of clothes he'd made in his room a bit before trying his all new, Juro provided outfit on. The jeans were snug but comfortable and the shirt fun. The sneakers weren't his typical style of footwear but they completed the uniform perfectly.

Now all Ken had to do was choose a film from the listing. But what type. [Horror,] he thought to himself. It'd give him and Yohji a reason to hold hands if either one of them were to get `scared'. But if they were to see a comedy then, Yohji would have to be in a good mood all night and wouldn't mind if Ken decided to rest a hand on the older boy's lap during the movie. [I'll just pick one of each and Yohji can give the final vote.] Thoughtfully, Ken called the theatre and checked for show times. The next showing they'd be able to catch was at 6:10. Just an hour and a half away.

+++

Yohji and Aya left the ice cream shop hand in hand and walked to their cars. "I guess I should get home now," Yohji suggested.

"No, not yet."

"I have to." Aya raised an eyebrow. "Really, I should."

"Well, if you must get home so badly, come to my home." Yohji giggled and shook his head. "You're coming over and hopefully you're spending the night. Then tomorrow you'll be mine alone."

"Oh yeah, my roommate told me you called about making plans tomorrow. What'd you have in mind?" Yohji asked smilingly.

Aya shrugged his shoulders. "Dinner at Avalon maybe. You do like it there don't you?"

"I love it and I've never been there during the evening."

"So it's settled then. You'll stay the night at my place and perhaps the next as well."

"I've already made plans. I can't do that."

"Well…then just keep me company for a little while," the redhead compromised. He searched Yohji's eyes even as the taller boy repeatedly closed them in thought.

"Deal."

The two retreated to Fujimiya's penthouse. Yohji wasn't sure but the place seemed different some how. It felt like he was entering the home for the first time. Idly, his eyes wandered to the spot on the floor where he and Aya had participated in a heated competition of licking each other off. A smile came to his mouth and he could hardly contain a laugh.

"Have a seat real quick," Aya requested. Yohji sat on the couch patiently as Aya disappeared into his bedroom. Shortly, the younger boy returned with a white box in his hands. He gave it to Yohji. The older boy opened it curiously and was pleased to see it was a replacement of the shirt Aya had viciously yet sexily ripped from his body during their last encounter.

Yohji took the shirt out of the box and held it up to his view. He smiled quite pleased with the gift. "Beautiful. Arigatou. I've been missing this shirt."

"Told you I'd replace it," Aya said playfully. "This one's fresh and new. Take your other shirt off and try it on. Yohji could see where this was going and he played along sweetly. He removed his current shirt and neatly put it to one side.

"Do you have a mirror?" the older boy asked.

"In my room." Yohji stood with the new shirt in hand and walked to the bedroom. He gave an inviting look and his redhead followed shortly behind. Yohji spotted the full-length mirror on the wall stood in front of it. He could see a reflection of Aya coming up behind him and he firmed his lips to repress a smile. "You've stopped putting the shirt on," said Fujimiya in a low voice. "See if it fits."

"Why, so you can rip it off again?" teased Yohji.

"I'll buy you a new one." Yohji laughed out loud. The younger boy was pressed up behind him and his hands were leading themselves over Yohji's abdomen.

+++

Ken waited patiently on the couch but boredom took him over and he began to feel very tired. "I'll just rest my eyes a minute," he whispered to himself. "I won't fall asleep."

Sleep did win the boy over but luckily he woke up. Unfortunately, it was a bit late though. Ken lifted his lids and saw that the living room clock read exactly 9:18 p.m. Just over three hours from the time that the movie was supposed to start. "Uh, oh." He rose from the sofa. "Yohji, are you home?" No answer. He walked to the front window and took a peak outside. Yohji's car was parked in the driveway, he was definitely home. [Dammit, he came home already and saw me sleeping. I hope he doesn't think I'm still all strung out from last night and didn't want to wake me. Fuck.] Ken ran a hand through his hair. He headed toward Yohji's bedroom. "Knock, knock," he said tapping at the door pane. He was simultaneously trying to think of what more to say or do to let Yohji know he wasn't feeling moody anymore and that it was alright to stop tip toeing around him.

After getting no answer from the older boy again, Ken opened the bedroom door. No Yohji. Peculiar. "Yohji," he called.

Ken looked out onto the backyard. He wasn't there either. Lastly, Ken revisited the front window for another look. Yohji's car was still in the driveway. But now that Ken was more awake his eyes saw more than what they had minutes ago. He moved to another window to get a better look and saw Ran Fujimya's car parked on the street. Suddenly, his senses became more aware of everything and faintly Ken could hear voices outside the front door. Aya had walked Yohji to the porch and they were saying their parting words. Ken listened carefully.

Yohji and Aya hugged. "Thanks again Aya for the shirt and for the ice cream."

"My pleasure." Aya kissed Yohji on the neck.

Ken swallowed hard.

"I'll see you again tomorrow night," said Yohji. He gave Aya a final kiss and the redhead left him.

Ken backed away from the door and quickly went to his room. He locked the door and stripped from his clothing, purposely ruining his hair in the process. He didn't want Yohji to know how much thought he'd put into the evening to begin with, starting with the delivery from Juro. He didn't want Yohji to think that he had waited patiently, no, pathetically all this time for him to show up. He wanted the night to seem unimportant, no big deal. He crawled into bed and pretended to be asleep. He could hear Yohji coming down the hallway. The older boy was creeping. His footsteps were slowly and talented. Ken squeezed his eyes tight. Now he really felt cheated. A new light had dawned on his life and it showed all of Yohji's true colors.

Emotionally stunned and perhaps even lonely, Ken winced inwardly as he heard Yohji come into his door. The older boy had planned to pass him up originally but felt bad for standing up his friend and knew that he owed the younger boy an apology. "Ken-kun," he whispered. Ken stirred and Yohji sat at the edge of the bed. He gently put a hand to the younger boy's face.

"Hm?" Ken murmured, doing his best to sound half asleep.

"Ken, I'm very sorry."

"For what?" The answer was clear of course but a bleeding heart needed to be told it. Ken turned onto his back and looked at the other boy. He wanted to see Yohji say it, admit to neglecting him so that he could finally get over the man. And this explanation stirred for more than just tonight, it was symbolic to Ken that Yohji did not, could not want him the way he desired. Ken wanted this to break his already splintered heart so that he could recycle the pieces and start anew. This was his turning point.

*shut up pagoda*